Hot Offense

[ND Lifer]

What a pleasure watching the passing game we have now. Enjoy it,especially after the putrid offense we had the last three years

! At the same time, we need to hope the offense doesn't have any off days scoring touchdowns because our defense still gives me nightmares! I hope Weis/Minter use the bye week to alter the defense from a "bend,don't break" scheme to a defense with an "attack mentality". We need to pressure our opponents QB's, and not let them have all day back there. No wondere our DB's have trouble in coverage. They can't stay with their man all day. It's hard for the QB to throw strikes when he's on his a$$.

 

[jiggafini19]

I am officially not a fan of Rick Minter. I don't like the scheme they're playing. the corners are too far off of the receivers and the safeties are too close to the line.

National Champions win with defense, not with an offense that scores 50 a game.

This might be the most important recruiting class in a long time. If they don't get some defensive prospects, they could be in trouble.

 

[BGIF]

I am officially not a fan of Rick Minter. I don't like the scheme they're playing. the corners are too far off of the receivers and the safeties are too close to the line.

National Champions win with defense, not with an offense that scores 50 a game.

This might be the most important recruiting class in a long time. If they don't get some defensive prospects, they could be in trouble.

My what a long way we've come from the expectation level of the preseason comments such as "Do you think we can be .500 after the first 6 games?"

ND started the season with 10.5 returning starters on offense and 3 on defense from a not very good defense and several years of inadequate recruiting. Everybody knew that ND's strength was offense and ND's defense was weak and the Secondary was the Achilles Heel.

So now we win 5 games and

Nationals Champions win with defense

nuggets are bandied about.

When did we become a National Champion Contender?

Just this past week posters were complaining about ND's easy schedule with both losses being to the only teams ND faced with winning records. (N.B. Sagarin currently has ND with the #1 toughest schedule in the nation even though the BCS won't let him use it for their rankings.)

Actually ND is a BCS Contender and with a 9-2 schedule will make the BCS simply because enough conference teams have to still to play each other after getting fat on weak non-conference and weak conference opponents and some will incur 1st, 2nd, or 3rd losses all of which will move ND up the ladder.

And with the exception of two 3 point losses, one in OT and the other in the last "7" seconds, with the exception of an inexperienced freshman fumble, or a INT returned for a TD, or a flag on the Bush Push, or a FG made ND would be #2 right now AND a National Champion Contender. And not one of you "new expectations" whinners predicated it.

While many of you lament Minter's defense, you neglect to note that the Head Coach we all praise has the authority to change it AND would if he knew of a better one. Early in the season I thought Zibby was playing out of position but when he still does in game 7, it's apparent that it's by design. Minter/Weis are playing to the resources they have available and are almost undefeated doing so.

Did any of you defensive protagonists note that ND now has more INTs (with the worst secondary in college football") after 7 games than they had all last season?

It's called progress.

If ND's schedule was frontloaded with BYU, Syracuse, et al. up front both the offense and defense would have improved faster, sooner and that could have been ND lay the shellacing on MSU today instead of NW.

 

[LuckoftheIrish86]

The defense is definitly progressing but jigga is right this recruitng class is quite impactfull to guide the Jones/Frazer/Aldridge era.

 

[KMac151993]

I am officially not a fan of Rick Minter. I don't like the scheme they're playing. the corners are too far off of the receivers and the safeties are too close to the line.

National Champions win with defense, not with an offense that scores 50 a game.

This might be the most important recruiting class in a long time. If they don't get some defensive prospects, they could be in trouble.

I don't think anyone was complaining in 1993 with Minter at the controls. The group of guys he has right now is not the same caliber like those guys at Texas and USC. Compare this team to last years squad, yes it is hard to find a difference on D, but I think considering that they have 3 returning starters and lack of depth everywhere the job he haa done has to be at least considered up to par. Yes, Minter should blitz more and keep the saftey's back but you also have to remember that this is the same guy who made the returning Heisman Trophy winner look confused for almost all the night a week ago and contained an out of this world offense of SC. Give Minter just a little bit more and he will turn this defense into a feared unit, but make no mistake he is a good coach and the right man for that job.

 

[irish9331]

The thing that i have noticed the most about this passing offense is I really like the decisions that Quinn is making now, and Stovall is now making the tough catch rather than dropping the easy ones. He has really stepped up this year, and just watching Quinn, the way that he is throwing the ball, including his footwork and throwing motion is greatly improved from the last 2 years.

 

[KMac151993]

The thing is however, I believe that Stovall could be better. I just feel that kid has so much potential and is finally utilizing most of it.

 

[jiggafini19]

There is absolutely no reason for opposing wide receivers to be as open as they are. NONE.

I watch top ranked teams play every week and they don't give up big plays, yards after the catch and don't miss tackles with nearly as much frequency as ND does.

Rick Minter had a ton of talent in 1992 and 1993. He is playing the hand he's dealt, but even with cold cards you can still win a hand. If ND goes to a BCS bowl, they may have to play USC keep away again to have a chance.

You can't expect your offense to score 50 every game. That is asking a lot.

 

[guff]

But we can expect them to score 30. The offense (not counting Zibby's two TDs) is averaging 37 points/per game. The defense is allowing 25 per. Admittedly higher than you would like.

To quote Don Rumsfeld "You go to war with the army you have, not the army you wish you had." I would like nothing else than to see some adaptation of Buddy Ryan's 46 Defense or Pittsburgh's blitz happy 3-4, but it can't happen with this bunch. I would love to see Duff and Walton back at corner and solve most of the problems. NCAA has rules against that sort thing.

So far this season they have caused 16 turnovers (9 ints and 7 fumbles not counting the one that went out of bounds at the two), gotten 17 sacks and scored a TD. They're an average defensive unit. Not great, not horrible - average. Their problem is allowing the big play. Maybe that is coaching, maybe it's guys playing out of position. Once they get that under control they'll be much better.

At any rate they are good enough to beat every one that's left on the schedule.

 

[iowadomer]

Honestly, we might be worse next year. Right now Tyrone's only good class are Jr., and I just see a lot of Freshman playing the next few years. There are too many mediocre players that are Freshman and Sophmores now.

 

[Irish Envy]

I am officially not a fan of Rick Minter. I don't like the scheme they're playing. the corners are too far off of the receivers and the safeties are too close to the line.

National Champions win with defense, not with an offense that scores 50 a game.

This might be the most important recruiting class in a long time. If they don't get some defensive prospects, they could be in trouble.

As Holtz says, you better pack your defense, your discipline and your kicking game if you want to win.

I dislike the formations he has us in as well, but I think he is using them because of the lack of talent we have on that side of the ball. It is definitely a "bend, don't break" philosophy and I think he'll move away from it as we get more playmakers and more speed on that side of the ball.

 

[KMac151993]

But we can expect them to score 30. The offense (not counting Zibby's two TDs) is averaging 37 points/per game. The defense is allowing 25 per. Admittedly higher than you would like.

To quote Don Rumsfeld "You go to war with the army you have, not the army you wish you had." I would like nothing else than to see some adaptation of Buddy Ryan's 46 Defense or Pittsburgh's blitz happy 3-4, but it can't happen with this bunch. I would love to see Duff and Walton back at corner and solve most of the problems. NCAA has rules against that sort thing.

So far this season they have caused 16 turnovers (9 ints and 7 fumbles not counting the one that went out of bounds at the two), gotten 17 sacks and scored a TD. They're an average defensive unit. Not great, not horrible - average. Their problem is allowing the big play. Maybe that is coaching, maybe it's guys playing out of position. Once they get that under control they'll be much better.

At any rate they are good enough to beat every one that's left on the schedule.

Duff wasn't that good of a player at all, I would take Ambrose Wooden over Duff anyday.

 

[jiggafini19]

Tennessee has a poor offense and their special teams look like a blooper video. This is Notre Dame's chance to pick up some momentum on defense. If Clausen/Ainge/Clausen/Ainge/Clausen is able to pick them apart, they know they're in trouble.

I think Tennessee can run the ball on ND, even with Arian Foster filling in for Riggs.

 

[irishnd31]

Are you joking?? Duff was a playmaker and was a good part of the reason that we were off to an 8-0 start a few years back. Duff could score anytime he had the ball in his hands (INTs or fumble recoveries), but I don't see that kind of threat in Wooden.

 

[KMac151993]

I'm looking at the CB aspect strictly; Duff got burnt all the time and was terrible in coverage, thats why I would take Wooden.

 

[irishnd31]

Alright, you win, but i still liked Duff and Walton on the corners. Will Wooden graduate this year?

 

[Batch]

Well I could go on pretty much all day about how far I feel our defense has come considering we only have 3 returning starters...but BGIF pretty much nailed my thoughts...

So I will leave it at that.

-Batch

 

[bigdon]

Minter's credentials are well established. Some might not like one facit of the defense or another but, let's face it, the guy is playing with a mediocre group.

The one area that's really dissapointing to me is the pass rush. Abiamiri was supposed to be the premier rush end coming out of high school. He has shown me a lack of agressivness and desire. He is always the third guy in on the tackle and rarely gets close to the QB in the rush.

The defensive backfield lacks speed except for Wooden who was a QB in high school and was tried at Wideout under Ty.

We are going to need a lot of help at defense if there are any expections of a chase for the National next year.

 

[Batch]

There is absolutely no reason for opposing wide receivers to be as open as they are. NONE.

I watch top ranked teams play every week and they don't give up big plays, yards after the catch and don't miss tackles with nearly as much frequency as ND does.

And despite this we are still ranked 19th in the nation on 3rd down defense. Definately a sign of Bend don't Break philosophy.

-Batch

 

[bigwindbag]

I agree with the sentiments of Minter playing the hand he was dealt. Our DBs aren't the best in the world. So, Minter's relying on LB's to play coverage to cover the weakness... of course at the cost of a steady pass rush. Playing Tampa Two at the most pressing moment of our season to date with a 4th and 8 scenario against USC, is very telling. Minter still has to get some kind of interruption to the passer though and he has been choosing his blitzes carefully- calculated ones where he can see we can overload a specific blocker's responsibilities. This Saturday, we sent to LBs between a center and guard. The second LB wasn't even touched as he took down Beck.

Playing DBs off the line is garbage, but it puts the corners in a better position to stop the long ball.

I have to say that I to am worried about the next year or two with Ty's low recuitment yields coming to age. I think we'll see a bunch of Charlie's freshman/sophmores in the year to come. I'm also worried about all of USC's 4/5 stars recuits over the past two years... the only hope I have is that maybe they'll have a lot of 3rd year NFL jumpers.

 

[weisfaninmass]

There is absolutely no reason for opposing wide receivers to be as open as they are. NONE.

I watch top ranked teams play every week and they don't give up big plays, yards after the catch and don't miss tackles with nearly as much frequency as ND does.

Rick Minter had a ton of talent in 1992 and 1993. He is playing the hand he's dealt, but even with cold cards you can still win a hand. If ND goes to a BCS bowl, they may have to play USC keep away again to have a chance.

You can't expect your offense to score 50 every game. That is asking a lot.

I actually think this team is a very good tackling team. The defense is playing above my expectations although they clearly are not a top5 defense. But for the last 2 years the defense couldn't stop anyone and Minter had to reload the positions because of graduation and Tuck leaving. If they were a top 5 defense - we would be 7-0 and ranked #1. But that doesn't mean Minter is not getting it done.

Significant improvement with very little game experience - YES.
Best in the Land Defense (like the offense) - No.

 

[domerfor life]

Minter's defense

Minter's defense

I would agree that the safeties play too close to the line of scrimmage. I guess that's just strategy to stop the run. Our secondary is pretty average. It's obvious we need speed and alot of it. Ambrose is pretty good. Besides, he's still learning the position. Mike Richardson has gotten better, but it's pretty easy to beat him deep. The safeties always let the receivers get behind them. We've played the seventh game of the season and the safeties still play shallow. If it weren't for a few drops by BYU, they would have had well over 400 yards passing. That is one thing that irks me about the defense. They give up too many big plays. That being said, with the exception of SC and MSU, ND strategy is to make teams one dimensional. That's pretty obvious. That's probably why the safeties play up. It will be nice when we get safeties that can recover and negate the long balls. For now, I'm just happy that they are winning.

 

[ND Lifer]

It comes down to one basic truism "defense wins championships". And the comment about our defense being a good tackling team, well they sure didn't show it in the BYU game. There were so many missed tackles, I couldn't count them all. What we need is a much more aggressive pass rush from the front four, let the LB back up the line and have the corners and safeties cover their men/zones. A good pass rush will do a whole lot for the pass coverage situation in the secondary.

 

[BGIF]

Alright, you win, but i still liked Duff and Walton on the corners. Will Wooden graduate this year?

So did I.

Wooden will be back, he's a Junior. Mike Richardson is the only Senior and he has a 5th year available.